Trends and Inequalities in Cancer Survival in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Background: Cancer is the second-highest cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for 9.6 million deaths in 2017, and its burden on individuals, economy and health system is a global problem. Although Australia has a universal health-care system, cancer survival varies by socio-economic disadvantage. The magnitude and age-related patterns of these inequalities are not clear in Victoria, Australia and little is known about whether the gap in cancer survival is narrowing or widening over time. Despite strong evidence that sex is associated with the incidence and prognosis of several diseases, few studies have assessed differences in cancer survival by sex, and no Australian study has comprehen..